AudinoGlitch
Weird Person
Are choice items really as helpful as they seem to be (every Pokemon seems to have a setup with them) because the lack of ability to use all your moves seems like it would hinder more than it would help.
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Choice Items
- Thread starter AudinoGlitch
- Start date
Monster Guy
Fairy type Trainer
I would think that too, but you can switch Pokemon, or use a different item if need be.
They boost a specific stat by one stage. It works well on some things. (Like Tinted Lens Choice Specs Yanmega in UU.)
They boost a specific stat by one stage. It works well on some things. (Like Tinted Lens Choice Specs Yanmega in UU.)
kaiser soze
Reading ADWD
The main advantage of a Choice item is the ability to attack immediately without having to set up. Additionally you can carry another attack, which can offer type coverage. Several things that above-averagly fast (base 100ish) with a Scarf can attack faster than non-scarfers. Additional power can also be helpful for many pokemon: Banded Scizor's Bullet Punch is way more scary, as well as Specs Kyorge's Water Spout. Of course, timing is an issue, so you might want to wait until you know what your opponent is packing before letting your choicers loose.
As far as how many choicers to have on a team, that's a matter of personal style.
As far as how many choicers to have on a team, that's a matter of personal style.
AudinoGlitch
Weird Person
So I guess choiseing isn't for me...yet. Personally I found it weird to limit yourself.
kaiser soze
Reading ADWD
However, the benefits often outweigh the costs. Frailer pokemon can be sure to attack first.
MetalSonic
Orderan' Defendan'
It's all about predictability when using Choice items. And if you've determined whether or not the opponent still has something up their sleeves. Limiting yourself may sound like a total drag, but it's worth it if you've got the right moves and if you're extremely cautious when switching the Choicer in. Especially an unexpected Choicer. They can REALLY do damage if you play it right.
Of course, if you're unsure about your abilities then you could always use Wise Glasses and the Muscle Band. -w-
Yep, predictabiliteh...
Of course, if you're unsure about your abilities then you could always use Wise Glasses and the Muscle Band. -w-
Yep, predictabiliteh...
There are a couple main reasons why Choice Items are used.
1. [Scarf] - Mons holding scarf often hit really important speed tiers that let them revenge kill stuff that sets up. In some cases, this is hugely important, as certain things set up are outsped by nothing in the standard meta (barring Sand Rush and Chlorophyll mons) once they get to +1 or +2 speed, and aren't revenged well by common priority (Volcarona, for example). In these instances, it's hugely helpful to have a scarfer who can revenge. The initial usefulness of something like Haxorus outspeeding the opponent's Latios (for example) is also really helpful in many situations.
2. [Band/Specs] - these offer a ridiculous amount of initial raw power. Just as an example, specs Reshiram 2HKOs literally the entire metagame between its two STABs with Sun up. Yes, that includes 252/252 Blissey. Without specs, it couldn't accomplish this feat. In addition, specs/band let stuff hit much harder initially, breaking down common switch ins (like Specs Latios, for example, who 2HKOs most Scizor with Surf, something LO Latios isn't always capable of, or CB Terakion, who 2HKOs a huge amount of his common switch ins between CB Stone Edge and CC). CB and Specs mons function as solid lures as well, partially for the reasons I just listed.
And it's not really too big a thing, but Trick is helpful too, since you have the initial power offered by the choice item as well as the ability to beat a switch in that doesn't like getting tricked.
1. [Scarf] - Mons holding scarf often hit really important speed tiers that let them revenge kill stuff that sets up. In some cases, this is hugely important, as certain things set up are outsped by nothing in the standard meta (barring Sand Rush and Chlorophyll mons) once they get to +1 or +2 speed, and aren't revenged well by common priority (Volcarona, for example). In these instances, it's hugely helpful to have a scarfer who can revenge. The initial usefulness of something like Haxorus outspeeding the opponent's Latios (for example) is also really helpful in many situations.
2. [Band/Specs] - these offer a ridiculous amount of initial raw power. Just as an example, specs Reshiram 2HKOs literally the entire metagame between its two STABs with Sun up. Yes, that includes 252/252 Blissey. Without specs, it couldn't accomplish this feat. In addition, specs/band let stuff hit much harder initially, breaking down common switch ins (like Specs Latios, for example, who 2HKOs most Scizor with Surf, something LO Latios isn't always capable of, or CB Terakion, who 2HKOs a huge amount of his common switch ins between CB Stone Edge and CC). CB and Specs mons function as solid lures as well, partially for the reasons I just listed.
And it's not really too big a thing, but Trick is helpful too, since you have the initial power offered by the choice item as well as the ability to beat a switch in that doesn't like getting tricked.
posting a super common combo because i can. these two mons have excellent synergy and can both switch into each other's counters which works really well in conjunction with hazardstacking teams.
Rotom-W @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 104 HP / 252 SAtk / 152 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Trick
Scizor (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
Rotom-W @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 104 HP / 252 SAtk / 152 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Trick
Scizor (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
Might as well use Blue Flare on Heatran. Resh has Turboblaze, which bypasses Flash Fire.
yah cause liek, dat strong turboblaze shits on tran!11!1!
is turboblaze basically legendary Mold Breaker?
Blue Harvest
Banned
Sorta. Bulbapedia says it best.
Ultimate Champion
The Great Pokémon Master
Prior to the advent of Generation V, I used to consider Choice items, especially Choice Scarf to be some of the best items ever, especially when held by Pokémon with extremely powerful attacks that are not very commonly resisted, such as Dragon-type Pokémon with their extremely powerful Draco Meteor and/or Outrage attacks. And at least when held by such Pokémon, gaining a huge boost in Speed or power was something I had always thought to be an excellent deal in exchange for locking the user into one attack, especially in the case of Outrage, which even without the use of a Choice item would lock the user into that move for 2-3 turns anyway. This mindset of mine carried over to Generation V, where I used Pokémon such as Choice Band Dragonite, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Choice Scarf Haxorus, Choice Band Haxorus, Choice Specs Hydreigon, Choice Scarf Zekrom and Choice Band Ho-oh at the beginning, finding them to be extremely appealing on paper. I'm not exactly sure what the reason is though, but after becoming more used to battling in Generation V, Choice items, especially Choice Scarf (possibly my most-used item in the past) have somehow become far less appealing to me over the past few months, as it seems to me that in this generation, being locked into one attack feels like a much greater hindrance than before, making me currently hold the opinion that in many cases, gaining a 1.5x boost in Speed or power is simply not worth it. Although I cannot be exactly sure, I speculate that the reasons for this may be the introduction of Ferrothorn, against which having a Choice Scarf Pokémon locked into Outrage is certainly a massive liability, considering Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs as well as its ability to use Leech Seed (a frustrating experience which my Choice Scarf Garchomp, Haxorus and Zekrom have met countless times in my early Generation V battling days, which could even result in the Outrage user dealing overall less damage to Ferrothorn than it recovers with Leech Seed each turn, meaning the Outrage user would be doing nothing but hurting itself for nothing for 2-3 turns before finally confusing itself and being forced to switch if the Ferrothorn's trainer predicts an Outrage and therefore sends Ferrothorn into it correctly. In fact, as a result of this, combined with Ferrothorn's huge popularity, I currently even hold the belief that Outrage as a move is far less useful than it was in Generation IV), as well as the impression on Choice items as a whole that I gained in my own personal experience with trying to figure out the best moveset for Hydreigon, as I initially thought that Choice Specs would be the best item for it, only to later realize how much better it was for this Pokémon to hold Life Orb and be able to freely switch between its attacks, in exchange for such moves having only slightly less power. A more simpler reason though, may be because I have regained my appreciation of how useful Leftovers can be in this generation (as I almost never used this item in Generation IV due to my offense-oriented battling style), especially in my Über team.
With that said though, I do acknowledge that the use of Pokémon holding Choice items can be necessary at times, such as Choice Scarf Terrakion in my Über team, since I need a Pokémon to be able to deal with Extreme Killer Arceus while also being able to outrun other Choice Scarf Pokémon, even though it can also be a huge liability if a Rock Polish and Swords Dance Groudon happens to come in against it when it is locked into Stone Edge, a fact which has also contributed to the aforementioned lowering of my opinion on Choice Scarf.
With that said though, I do acknowledge that the use of Pokémon holding Choice items can be necessary at times, such as Choice Scarf Terrakion in my Über team, since I need a Pokémon to be able to deal with Extreme Killer Arceus while also being able to outrun other Choice Scarf Pokémon, even though it can also be a huge liability if a Rock Polish and Swords Dance Groudon happens to come in against it when it is locked into Stone Edge, a fact which has also contributed to the aforementioned lowering of my opinion on Choice Scarf.
lucario44444444
Well-Known Member
Choice Scarf users always make good revenge killers, however. I dont see ppl using Chioce Scarf Landorus, EQ, Stone edge, Hp ice, U-turn, make one of the most deadly sweepers in the game